Chelsea travels to Germany for their fourth-round UEFA Conference League fixture following their Premier League win against Leicester City. The Blues will face Bundesliga side Heidenheim at Voith-Arena, with both teams entering the tie with a perfect record. Here’s what to watch for:
1. How Much Will Missing Players Affect Chelsea?
Chelsea has announced a squad of 21 players for the trip. Among those staying behind in England are Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, and Pedro Neto, along with unregistered players.
The absence of both Malo Gusto and Reece James means Chelsea will once again deploy a makeshift right-back. Despite their position in the table, concerns remain about dealing with in-swinging crosses to the back post, particularly for the expected back four of Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, and Renato Veiga. Heidenheim is currently in the Bundesliga’s bottom four and has been winless in the domestic competitions since late September. But they have shown good form in the Conference League. The home team will likely take note of the Blues' vulnerabilities in their backline.
Cesare Casadei, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Carney Chukwuemeka are expected to compete for starting roles in central midfield, with the former two leading the race. It will be intriguing to see how the absence of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Enzo Fernandez impacts Chelsea if the match gets challenging.
2. Who Will Make Their Mark?
With fixtures coming thick and fast, Enzo Maresca will rely on all his players to perform at their best. Thursday's match presents an opportunity for those who have seen limited Premier League minutes to stake their claim.
João Félix, who has been enjoying a solid run in the Conference League, made his first Premier League start last Saturday and impressed. Similarly, Noni Madueke, who has started every Premier League match except the opener, has struggled to find consistent form recently. A start on Thursday offers him a chance to shine on a different stage and signals to the squad that performances matter across all competitions.
3. Impact of Academy Graduates
In addition to senior players, Enzo Maresca has included several academy prospects in the traveling squad. Lucas Bergstrom joins the goalkeepers, while Kiano Dyer, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Tyrique George, and Shumaira Mheuka represent the outfield players. Josh Acheampong trained ahead of the fixture but did not make the final cut.
George, who made his first start for the club in the third round against Noah, is the most likely candidate among the academy players to receive minutes again. Rak-Sakyi, who debuted in the same match, and Dyer could also feature if Maresca opts to rotate his midfielders during the game. While not all academy players will have opportunities, Thursday could still prove to be a pivotal experience for their development.